Madness: Between Medieval Islamic and Modern Perspectives

In March 2010, a unique gathering took place at St Cross College, Oxford, convening leading historians of the medieval Islamic world with practising psychiatrists. The resulting Madness: Between Medieval Islamic and Modern Perspectives podcast captures that conference, preserving a fascinating dialogue across centuries. The discussions move beyond abstract theory, delving into specific historical realities and their startling resonance with modern questions. You’ll hear about the physicians who attended Saladin’s court and their approaches to what we might now call depression, exploring the roots of care in a historical context. The conversation broadens to consider the role of medieval hospitals, the figure of the ‘mad’ poet, and even the complex diagnosis of love-sickness. This Oxford University series offers a rare opportunity to listen as experts from vastly different fields grapple with a fundamental human experience. Each episode in this podcast serves as a direct portal to that workshop, where definitions are challenged and comparisons are drawn without easy conclusion. It is an educational journey that avoids simple parallels, instead sitting comfortably in the space between ancient understanding and contemporary clinical practice. The value lies in the juxtaposition itself, inviting you to reconsider what constitutes madness when viewed through these two distinct yet conversant lenses.